By signcraft
Posted on Sunday, July 30th, 2023
Readers want to know: “How do you set up to apply lettering above the windshield on a tall Ford Transit van?
“I have a customer that needs that impossible slope on the front roof of a Ford Transit van lettered. Does anyone have a suggestion on how to get to that hard-to-reach spot to apply the graphics?”
Find answers from readers below—and add your own if you can help.
I have done this two ways: two stepladders with a plank across the windshield, on which you’ll be kneeling, wobbling a little, reaching precariously, and struggling. The other way is to put your materials and tools on the hood or the plank, take your shoes off and stand in the cowl on padding of a couple towels or a moving blanket to help distribute your weight, and place your work while laying right on the glass. You do have to be careful and conscious of fragile parts as you place your feet, and it helps if you’re not a real heavy person and are fairly agile. It’s not ideal, that’s for sure, but it’s doable. If I had a number of those vehicles to do, I’d set up staging instead of two ladders, and the wobble factor would go away.
Set up two adjustable ladders near the front tires/doors and bridge an extendable scaffold over the hood/winshield.
I have a 14 foot extendable alu.inum plank that I set up with two 8 foot A-frame ladders on each side. I usually straddle the plank on the ladder rung where it will be right above the hood of the vehicle. I test for clearance and then slowly drive the vehicle into the ladder and plank set up. I am able to walk up the ladder onto the plank and reach that awkward front top area safely and comfortably. The plank will be close to the front windshield so be careful not to drop any tools onto that glass. I have wrapped that front area with vinyl and also installed logos and lettering in that specific area many times using this set up. I hope this helps. Good luck.
I use the trick my old boss taught me. Take your shoes off and stand on the hood. There’s usually no good way to measure for level because of the curve, so get someone whose eye you trust for getting the graphic straight.
I’ve done this on similar small vehicles and it’s how I reach the bird bangers on the top of semi trucks. Of course, this really only works if you’re halfway agile and are under 180 pounds.
I use two Little Giant ladders….one on each side of the van and put a catwalk or walk boards between each ladder. You can sit down and lean over to letter the vehicle….works great!
Set up a step ladder on both sides and put a plank across the steps that you can walk on. A wooden 2×12 x 12 feet long will do the trick but we also have planks that when extended are 13 feet long
https://www.homedepot.ca/product/metaltech-13-ft-aluminum-telescopic-plank/1001633499?eid=PS_GOOGLE_D00%20-%20E-Comm_GGL_Shopping_PLA_EN_All%20Products_All%20Products__PRODUCT_GROUP_pla-294357661102&gclid=Cj0KCQjwoK2mBhDzARIsADGbjeoCb_nLcdS1SlazWz4KTqoyq1z1b7Njx48iodbHeF9MnJK4lJnlFJ4aAseWEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
we use the bucket truck and tilt feature, and lay down on the leaning side of the bucket, allows us to hover over the windshield
I’ve set a stepladder next to each side and set a stretch plank across just over the hood. Sometimes we’ve needed to put a blanket on the hood also. But from that platform you can lean forward and get it done.